While I had hoped to finally take a day off from club activities to spend with my family without answering an email, phone call or post, unfortunately that is not to be.

The Weird comment is that I find it weird you would make a statement like "My how nothing seems to change" when you know that is not true.

I personally believe that a statement like that from a long time club member is irresponsible as well as morally reprehensible when it is made in the hopes that newer members and visitors to the board will believe that. ESPECIALLY when the person posting that comment knows it to not be true.

So, I guess I have no choice but to rehash each of the comments just as had been done 4 years earlier and numerous times since.

Lets start with the easiest one like your #8

You state "Let’s start a junior membership as Dennis Shoop suggested."

Amazingly Dennis suggestion was accepted and we started a Junior Membership program several years ago.

This was announced on both boards and in the magazine and I know you were aware of this since you were involved in those threads.

In addition we have a fantastic kids program that is put into place at each convention and absolutely loved by the kids that participate

To lead people to believe that this suggestion was ignored or shot down is VERY irresponsible.

Now on to some other suggestions that have been discussed on the boards and the membership been made aware of.

1) The Banquet - We all know how you feel about the banquet. Based on catering costs from our convention provider we cannot offer wine and cheese for $20 a person.

While you dislike the banquet, the 120 or so members that attend every year feel very differently. I have heard many positive comments about the banquet by members both old and new. the food has been a lot better than the past and we are constantly experimenting with new options to improve it including a sit down served dinner and a choice of entrees.

Just because you dont like the idea of the banquet, doesnt mean that all those that attend it feel the same the same way.

2) Smoking on the conference room floor - You have been told numerous times now that the South Point does not allow smoking in non gaming areas. We have talked with the South Point and this will not change.

Whether this is a state law, a local ordnance or just a preference by the South Point, it makes no difference as its not allowed.

This decision is completely out of our hands and to make people believe that we can renegotiate laws or casino policy is just wrong.

The dealers who left had absolutely nothing do to with a smoking policy.

3) Open the convention for all days to everyone and anyone for free.

The BOD and registration chairs talk every year about what the fees should be and what we can do to increase attendance.

Anyone who reads the boards shoudl be aware of this as it is discussed nearly every year.

2 years ago we decided to allow free admission on both Friday AND Saturday to see if that made a difference in attendance.

The fact is that it made no difference other than a decrease in revenues.

Other conventions at the same location charge significantly more that we do and dont have the same issues.

4) Let’s take care of our volunteers - You have made this statement of a photographer sitting in the back of the room and getting served last on several occasions now.

Oddly enough just today I received an email from one of our club photographers who told me he loved the banquet, had no problems whatsoever and had no idea how I put up with some of the BS that I constantly have to defend.

Our volunteers are thanked profusely by email, on both boards, in the magazine, at the banquet and at the volunteer reception.

Volunteers are celebrated each year at a special reception and given a gift. Total cost to the club for each volunteer for these special items comes close to $50 a head.

You mention why does the photographer have to pay for a banquet ticket? As I have told you before MANY times, every person pays for their banquet ticket. That includes the BOD, the committe chairs, the Banquet MC and even myself.

You also keep trying to make people believe that we give out a bunch of free meals and sit people in the front of the room which is untrue.

Yes in the past we have had a few invited guests that are in positions to help the club. George Maloof was given a free invitation and then donated nearly $4,000 back to the club when he purchased the painting.

the heads of the Mob Museum and El Cortex have also been invited as a thanks for helping us get exhibits in those locations and in hopes of a continuing relationship.

So yes there are a very few invites given to outsiders but everyone else pays for the banquet tickets.

5) If we can, let’s try to have South Point put a cash bar inside the convention area. That idea has been discussed and even tried during the auction with terrible results. Our costs for the bar far outweigh the benefits. the Bar cost us several hundred $'s as well as $175 an hour for the bartenders.

I am not sure of the issues with children being let into the convention either if we were serving alcohol.

These issues have been discussed on the boards several times and not hidden from the membership as you suggest.

6) Negotiate a better return on the poker tourney.

Again a topic that you have been answered by David Spragg and Gene Trimble about more than once.

This is a private tournament and the fees are what they are. we have talked with them and this is what it costs to hold a tournament like this on a premium night.

We are lucky the South Point even agrees to do this for us.

Yes serious poker players realize that this is a high rake and a better deal can be found elsewhere. However we still continue to play as its more than just another tournament. Its a chance to play with all your friends and a great time is had by all.

Do other tournaments offer special bounty bags full of chips for those that knock people out.

The Tournaments bring no revenue to the club as 100% is either paid out of raked by the casino. We continue to offer the tournaments because out members love it and it adds something extra to the convention experience.

By the way, several members mentioned that they wanted to start with more chips so this year we worked this like a deep stack tournament as well as allowed rebuys for the first time.

Both member suggestions that were adopted and BOTH were announced on the boards and in the magazine, not hidden by the BOD as some may suggest.

7) Dealer table fees.

The table fees are based on several things including the large costs we pay for the convention space. We are constantly trying to bring in new dealers and are exploring an option this year to fill the convention space and possibly lower table fees.

Again this question has been answered before so I am not sure the point of continuously posting it.

9) Raising funds for advertising.

The club likes this idea. How this fits in with all the other fundraisers is tough. Between the request of donations for the Raffle, the Auction and the MOGH, we dont want to tap people out. This is a good suggestion that just hasn't been put into place yet as we continue to look for the best advertising for the buck with new articles, press releases.

Spending $50,000 on an add in Playboy is just not something we feel is worth the cost.

10) Decreasing revenue -

This seems to be a complete opposite to all the other suggestions.

Less revenue means less benefits, less advertising, less of a convention. Providing the most we can for our members and convention attendees is our #1 goal. Decreasing revenue does not support that goal.

So if you want to post that the BOD is ignoring your suggestion #10, then so be it. Just as long as you dont say we are not handling the others, which you know full well is not true.

Doug